Top 6 Benefits of a Well-Maintained Cedar Roof

The benefits of maintaining a cedar roof range from aesthetic charm to long-term durability to environmental sustainability. Wood shingles are a great choice for anyone looking for resilience in beauty and function.

Cedar is a timeless material that can blend well with many different styles. A textured cedar shake can enhance a rustic cabin, while a smooth cedar shingle can polish off a more modern home. The look of natural wooden shingles creates a unique appeal that stands out from traditional asphalt roofing. Since cedar is one of the strongest materials for residential roofing, homeowners can be confident in their property's value and longevity. Learn why it's worth maintaining the roofing material below!

Advantages of Well-Maintained Cedar Roofing

Here are some benefits of maintaining a cedar roof:

1. Long-Lasting Natural Beauty

Cedar roofs will add a unique beauty and style to your home. Since most people in the United States opt for asphalt shingles, wood shingles stand out on any roof. As the cedar ages, the wood color will change and darken. If you have red or white cedar, the shingles will become a beautiful brown or grayish-silver color.

Cedar shakes have a rough texture and varying square shape, perfect for giving your house a rustic appeal. Cedar shingles are cut uniformly, giving your home a more modern wood finish.

Cedar roofs are especially popular in historic neighborhoods. A quality cedar roof will add character and value to a vintage home. Maintaining cedar roofing will add authenticity to your home that a more modern roofing material lacks.

A cedar roof will require maintenance every few years. It is an investment, but regular care will ensure that your roofing looks gorgeous for decades. Cedar Roof Coatings can clean, treat and repair your roofing to preserve its natural beauty for years to come.

2. Cedar Roof Options to Fit Your Unique Style

You have a lot of options to choose from for a customized cedar roof. Choose between red and white cedar and whether you want cedar shingles or cedar shakes. If that's not enough, there is a lot of freedom and variation when it comes to choosing the size, thickness and grain of your shingles. Choosing cedar shingles allows you to have a unique roof that is all your own.

Of course, if you already have a cedar roof, you might not have been the one to choose your shingles, but you can still add your own flair. Cedar shingles naturally have a warm color palette, but you can always spruce them up to look more modern or cool-toned.

If you would like to enhance the natural wood tone, you can always add different paint colors and stains to your taste. Staining is a part of regular maintenance that helps keep or transform the color of your shingles to ensure the color lasts. You can't go wrong with the classic cedar tone, but at Cedar Roof Coatings, we also offer butternut, slate gray, russett brown, redwood and gold coatings to blend with any style.

3. Durability That Allows Your Shingles to Last

Cedar shingles are very durable compared to other roofing materials. They are not as fragile or breakable as clay or slate shingles. Historically, many people switched from cedar shingles due to concerns about their lack of fire resistance. Today, it's no longer considered a significant fire hazard to have wood roofs on your home with modern heating systems.

Cedar shingles and shakes are durable in all kinds of severe weather, from hurricanes and heavy rain to wind and snowstorms. The beauty of wood is that it contracts and expands easily during temperature changes, making it a more flexible building material. Depending on the cut and size of the shingles, they can stand up to winds reaching hundreds of miles per hour.

If your cedar roofing is damaged by extreme weather, it is important to repair those shingles right away. If an excess of leaves and branches collect on your shingles, they can breed mold and mildew. Regular roof maintenance by Cedar Roof Coatings can treat the damage and remove storm debris to keep your roof fully functioning and long-lasting.

4. Natural Insulation for Your Home

Heat naturally rises, so your roof plays an essential role in preserving your home's internal temperature. Cedar wood has natural thermal insulation properties to prevent air from passing through the shingles. Cedar shingles will help keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

In terms of insulation effectiveness, cedar ranks the highest out of any wood. The natural insulation of cedar outshines that of asphalt shingles. Cedar shingles are lighter in color than other roofing materials, reflecting sunlight that can heat your home in the summer. By using wood shingles, you can save money on your energy bills without sacrificing comfort. With proper maintenance, you can enjoy the benefits of an energy-efficient roof for many years.

5. An Environmentally Sustainable Roofing Material

Cedar shingles are eco-friendly and recyclable products. When they wear out and need to be replaced, they can easily be disposed of and degrade without any threat to the environment. Used cedar is also a common ingredient in mulches and other gardening fills. Additionally, each time a cedar tree is cut down to make shingles or shakes, a new tree is planted in its place. Wood is the only completely renewable building material widely in use.

Wood is easily recyclable as a building material, paper, fuel and mulch. If it doesn't get recycled, wood is biodegradable, meaning it will decompose. You can rest assured that using cedar shingles will not negatively affect the environment.

Much of the cedar used for roofing comes from older forests, but this is actually more sustainable for the environment. When old trees die, they release carbon back into the atmosphere during the decomposition process. On the other hand, younger forests absorb more carbon dioxide than older forests because they need it to help them grow. Harvesting older trees is better for the climate from a carbon standpoint.

With the proper maintenance, cedar roofing lasts much longer than a traditional asphalt roof. You won't have to replace your roof nearly as often, which will preserve roofing materials and save you money. Cedar shingles are sustainable for the environment and your wallet.

6. An Increase to Home Value

Because cedar shingles are so durable and demonstrate high quality, they effectively increase the resale value of your home. Homes with cedar roofs tend to sell for a higher price on the real estate market. Realtors and homebuyers are looking for homes with sturdy bones and charming features. Cedar roofing appeals to both of these wishes, which makes your home more attractive.

A well-maintained cedar roof will look and function better to boost your home value and curb appeal at the same time. Even if you're not currently looking to sell your home, keep in mind that maintaining your cedar roof might be in your best interest if you choose to sell down the road. Leave it to the experts at Cedar Roof Coatings to keep your cedar shingles and shake well-maintained at all times.

How Long Do Wood Shingles Last?

What cedar shingles might lack in short-term cost, they more than make up for in longevity. Cedar shingles last about 20-25 years, which is approximately 10 years longer than asphalt shingles. Regular repairs of single shingles can make the entire roof last longer, as well. Depending on how long you live in your house, you might not ever need to replace your roof if you hire professionals from Cedar Roof Coatings to maintain it correctly.

How Much Maintenance Does a Cedar Roof Need?

Maintenance is the one area where cedar shingles are a little more work than asphalt shingles. Since they are made from wood, there are a couple more things to watch out for than with shingles made of other roofing materials.

Luckily, cedar shingles have a lot of natural resistance to the problems you might encounter with wood shingles, which is why they're the best.

Wood roofs are prone to attracting insects like wasps, termites, wood borers and other pests. Your shingles will need to be treated regularly by professionals to keep out insects. Some treatment options include insect sprays, paints, stains and varnishes.

The latter options will also help minimize cracking, rotting and warping caused by weather and age. Adding a layer of mesh underneath the shingles will help dry out any moisture that might collect there from the rain — this will also help prevent rotting and warping.

Cedar naturally repels termites. Termites can cause damages with huge repair bills if left to their own devices. Cedar wood contains a chemical that termites instinctively avoid. There's a reason many closets and trunks are made from cedar — it keeps bugs out of your clothes. Likewise, your cedar shingles will effectively keep these unwanted pests out of your home.

Like a real tree, wood shingles can acquire moss, mold, fungus and other mildew and debris during their lifetime. While this might look cool, it's not good for the long-term health of the roof. Utilize repair and restoration services from Cedar Roofing Coatings to ensure your cedar shingles are in the best condition they can be.

If you already have a cedar roof, it's important to keep up with its maintenance. Choosing cedar shingles has pros and cons, but the advantages of having a well-maintained cedar roof are well worth the cost of getting professional care. Regular maintenance can prevent higher costs and repairs later on from larger weather and pest problems.

Wood Shingles vs. Shakes

Cedar roofing can come in two different forms — shingles and shakes. Machines cut wood shingles into pieces that are identical in size. Wood shingles have a more modern, uniform look because of this and lend themselves well to tighter stacking and layering.

Wood shakes are made by hand. Logs are split into pieces roughly the same size, but shakes are thicker than shingles and have a more rustic appearance. Shakes are then sawn on one side — this is the side that will fit against the house. The hand-split side faces out, giving the shakes their distinct appearance.

Either style will have its own maintenance needs, though they're relatively similar. The primary deciding factor will be the roof appearance you want for your home.

Treated vs. Untreated Cedar Shingles

As you might expect, treated cedar shingles last a lot longer than untreated cedar shingles. They also retain their original beauty longer. Our team offers a preservation treatment that repels water, stops UV damage, prevents wood rot and eliminates mold and mildew. We use the highest quality TWP® 200 solution, specially formulated to extend the life of cedar roofing. It enhances the cellular integrity and appearance of the wood for a healthier and better-looking finish.

Much of the natural protection of cedar shingles can be stripped away by the sun's UV rays. Similar to how sunburn affects our skin, the sun can cause visible aging, cracking and splitting in the wood. With professional treatment, you can prevent UV damage to your roof, making it last longer and in better condition. In the northeast United States, it's recommended to receive shingle treatments every five to six years.

Untreated wood shingles are more prone to pests and water damage that is avoidable with proper care. Cedar wood contains natural oils that help to make it resistant to pests and mildew. While the wood naturally offers many protections for your roof, you'll get more life from your shingles if you maintain them properly.

Why You Should Use Cedar Shingles for Your Roof

So why is cedar the preferred wood for roofing? Cedar wood is superior because of its durable natural properties and its:

• Longevity-based value: A cedar shingle roof costs less than tile or slate, though they are more expensive than asphalt shingles. However, the value of a cedar roof is in its longevity — you won't need to replace your roof every few years. At Cedar Roof Coatings, we can inspect your roof and provide an estimate of the cost savings for maintenance and repairs compared to replacing the entire roof.

• Ability to withstand wet climates: Compared to other types of wood, cedar shingles are significantly less likely to swell over time due to a wet climate.

• Ability to maintain its shape: Cedar shingles and shake will maintain their shape better, meaning less need for shingle repair and replacement.

• Pleasant and cozy scent: Cedar has one of the nicest smells of any other roofing material, as well, even among other woods. Its fresh scent will add charm and coziness to your home.

Cedar roofing benefits far outweigh the costs. Cedar shingles are the best type of wood shingle, and they outperform other synthetic roofing materials in durability and longevity, not to mention curb appeal.

Schedule Proper Maintenance With Cedar Roof Coatings

Cedar roofing is unmatched in style and durability. It goes beyond its beautiful looks and helps keep your home safe and comfortable during inclement weather for decades to come. If you have an existing cedar roof or intend to install one, Cedar Roof Coatings can help you maintain the natural charm of your home with regular maintenance and repairs.

Cedar shingles and shake require more attention than other roofing materials, but it is worth the effort for the gorgeous look and longevity of a wooden roof. Revive your cedar roof and preserve it with Cedar Roof Coatings. Contact us to get started today!